Author Archives: prayerfromtheheart

0 MY loving Father, I am not content to serve You and do the work You have given me to do. I desire to abide in You, and enter into the joy of holy communion. You are more than a Master; You are my Father and Friend. While, I obey Your will as a devoted servant, I would give my love, my heart, my life unto You, and rejoice exceedingly in Your company. The very thought that You are near me must give me joy, or You are not dear to me. Your name must be far sweeter to me than any other sound, however pleasant, or my heart has not loved You. As the deer pants after the water-brooks, so must I seek the light of Your countenance at all times; for it is sweet to behold the face of my truest Friend and my dearest Father. Consent then, 0 Lord, to dwell in the recesses of my heart, and graciously guide me and gladden me with the light of Your presence. May it not fall to my lot to offer You the heartless services of outward morality. Teach me to love You and Your work, and help me to find strength and consolation and reward in the fact, that You are in me and I am in You, united for ever in the ties of love.

Book: Alone To The Alone Prayers For Theists, Edited, With A Preface, By Frances Power Cobbe 2nd Edition By Several Contributors Publisher: London: Williams and Norgate 1872 Revised and Edited by: Karrol Sneed 2015

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O Lord you alone are Jehovah—the Most High over all the earth—and the Ruler of the Universe! Angels and Archangels veil their faces before you in homage and adoration; all your works praise you, and your name is excellent in all the earth; your saints bless you and with adoring gratitude proclaim your name to succeeding generations.

Imitating the example of patriarchs and prophets; of apostles and martyrs; and above all of our Lord Jesus Christ the great exemplar of human duty, may we offer to you our bodies and our spirits a living sacrifice acceptable unto God, and our reasonable service. May we find a bower of prayer in whatever part of the earth we live; raise an altar in our family dwelling, however lowly or solitary; and consecrate a Bethel in every place of our sojourn among men.

May we be numbered with your people, share with them your partial providence in this world, and the inheritance reserved for them in heaven. May our habitation be blessed with those of the just, and not experience the avenging fury poured out upon the families who call not upon your name.

May the community where we shall dwell enjoy peace and prosperity; our land become Emanuel’s land; and the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose language teach us ever to pray, “Our Father,” &c., &c.

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How is it that these wise men, who were not Jews, were aware of the birth of the “King of the Jews”? That they not only understood who He was, but desired to worship Him (v. 2) shows that God is able to reveal Himself to people in all lands and call them to Himself. These wise men “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” as God used a star to guide them to the Christ Child, then they “fell down and worshiped Him” (vv. 9-11). They made great personal and financial sacrifices to see this Child: they traveled a great distance, spent months away from their homes, and gave extravagant gifts to this newborn King.

Those who are wise today will listen for His voice, follow His guidance, and be willing to sacrifice everything for so great a privilege as meeting the King. See Php_3:8.

YOU are worthy, O Lord, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Blessed be Your glorious Name.
For Your good soldiers in every age, striving lawfully, enduring to the end,
For the wisdom of doctors,
The zeal of evangelists,
The eloquence of prophets,
The love of pastors,
For the praises of babes, the ministry of women,
The purity of the young, the fervor of the aged,
For all the signs of Your Presence,
All the marks of Your Cross,
All glory be to You.
For the light of Your everlasting Gospel,
Sent to every nation and kindred, and tongue and people,
Shining so long amongst ourselves;
For Your Church, the pillar and ground of the truth,
Against which the gates of hell have not prevailed;
For Your gracious word of promise That they that be wise shall shine As the brightness of the firmament,
And they that turn many to righteousness As the stars for ever and ever,
All praise, all glory Be to You.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, Longsuffering, and of great goodness.
The Lord is loving to every man,
And His mercy is over all His works.
All Your works praise You, O Lord,
And Your Saints give thanks to You.
They show the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
That Your power, Your glory, and mightiness of Your kingdom,
Might be known to men.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all ages.
Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty;
Just and true are Your ways, You King of Saints.
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name?
For You only are holy;
For all nations shall come and worship before You;
For Your judgments are made manifest.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, Which no man could number,
Of all nations and kindred’s, and people and tongues,
Stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, Clothed with white robes,
And palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, Which sits upon the throne,
And to the Lamb,
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we are Yours. The God whom we ought to serve; whom to know is life eternal, and whom to serve is perfect freedom; we adore Your majesty and grace as they are revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

We are sinful and rebellious creatures, and You are a consuming fire. But eternal praise be to Your wisdom, which provided a way in which You could be a just God, and yet a Savior. We praise and bless You for the Gospel, which reveals Your love to us in Jesus; that You have laid help upon One that is mighty; that You have delivered us from going down to the pit, because You have found a ransom. Accept us, this night, in Your beloved Son, the Lord our righteousness. We take hold of His salvation, and stand before You in our substitute; we rejoice, that in Him we can be justified from all things; that in Him You are a God of love.

May the Holy Ghost shed abroad in our hearts the love of Your name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and keep us in the same forever and ever.

O Lord, it is painful and grievous to us when we do not serve You better. Our hearts are too often charged with the anxious cares of earthly things. Our flesh clings to the dust; and our affections stray away from You, whom we ought to love. O our God, have compassion upon us, while we are struggling against the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Leave us not in our own strength to contend with our spiritual enemies, but let Your strength be made perfect in our weakness. O ever precious Savior, our great High Priest, our advocate with the Father, plead our cause, and supply all needful grace for the strengthening and refreshing of our souls. All that we can desire is treasured up in You. Give us whatever we need for Your service and for the enjoyment of heavenly things; so shall we be neither barren, nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And bless Your mourning church, O Lord, which suffers from deadness and division. Grant a fuller measure of the Comforter’s presence. O heal the wounds which sin and selfishness have inflicted upon Your members. Cause Your ways to be known upon earth. Make it plain, how Your servants should serve You. Leave us not in doubt with regard to those things which make for our peace. May we in sincerity of heart look to You for direction. O Lord, rouse Your slumbering servants among us, and make them ready for the bridegroom’s coming. Give us oil in our lamps; and so wean our hearts from all worldly things, that we may be ready, at any moment, to go forth when the cry shall be heard, “Behold the bridegroom comes.” Give to us all that preparedness of heart, that we may be enabled to rejoice at the sign of the Son of Man, and hasten to meet Him.

Look in mercy upon those who are still living to the world, and who are not looking for the advent of Jesus. Prepare their hearts to obey the gospel of Your grace. Give them faith in Jesus, as a Savior, and the spirit of adoption, to call You, Abba Father. Spare them, we beseech You, yet a little longer, and supply that Spirit, which will cause them to bring forth fruit to Your glory.

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I GIVE myself to You, O Father, as an unworthy sacrifice. I call to mind with humble reverence and admiration the Offering Which Your Blessed Son made to You in His Incarnation, and above all in His Death. I call to mind His love for me in redeeming me, in electing me, in regenerating me. I call to mind His love for You in glorifying You by saving and infinitely exalting us human beings. I wish to make a memorial to You of Him, and of His love, by imitating His self-devotion, as a member of His Body.

For this purpose, I now give all my heart, all my powers of thought, of speech, of action. I most humbly renounce all vainglory in what Your strength has enabled me to do to Your honor.

I turn my eyes from all that may feed my self-esteem, from all earthly things that can reward me here. I shut my ears to the praise of men. I seek only the honor that comes from You. I dread robbing You of any of that which I now profess to give wholly to You, by selling any part of it for the honor of men. 1 give myself to You, O Father, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Oh, do accept me; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

O GOD, Whose blessed Son was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God and heirs of eternal life ; grant us, we beseech Thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as He is pure ; that, when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal and glorious Kingdom ; where with Thee, Father, and Thee, Holy Ghost, He lives and reigns, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Bishop Cosin, A.D. 1594 ; Book of Common Prayer, A.D. 1662.)

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INFINITE Father, before engaging in our daily duties and daily cares, we would desire to commune with our own souls, and with You. In this morning quiet let us hear Your voice in our listening hearts. We remember that Your Beloved Son, the sinless and perfect one, went into a mountain, apart from men, for prayer and communion with You. How infinite the need of such meditation and prayer for Your faltering and sinful children! God, You have promised to draw near to those who draw near to You. O God reveal Your truth, and manifest Your love to the sincere and single heart of Your child here before You. Help us to gain that singleness of heart which will prepare us to receive great a blessing We need Your Spirit to enable us to pray aright, and truly fix our thoughts on You. O, hear our earnest cries for the grace to make our souls meet to become Your temple, and Your dwelling-place.

O God, our vain self-defense for our frailties and sins are gone when we come into Your presence, our excuses die upon our tongues. We cannot speak them to Your ear. We can only speak with the confession of the publican, and plead for mercy. And yet, O Father, though these meditations before You, prostrate us in humility, may we come to You in lowly joy. Set all our sins in order before us in the light of Your countenance. May we be strangers to all the world, rather than strangers to our own hearts. Rend away every disguise of selfishness and sin, and let us see what unworthy guests we have permitted to enter into our secret breasts, that we may drive them all away through Your assisting grace.

And then, O God, crown all Your mercies by sending angels to minister to us forevermore. May we long after You as the hart pants after the water-brooks. May we lay up within our souls an unfading treasure of holy affections and heavenly aspirations, which shall be the earnest and the foretaste of that life which is eternal. Grant us thus to find our strength and our rest in You, and then take us to thyself, in that forgiving love made known by Jesus, our Redeemer. Amen,

Book: The Alter at Home 2nd Series 8th Edition
Author: American Unitarian Association
Publisher: BOSTON: Walker, Wise, and Company 1891
Revised and Edited by: Karrol 2015

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I AM . . . A Child of God (Romans 8:16)
Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy (Psalm 107:2)
Forgiven (Colossians 1:13,14)
Saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8)
Justified (Romans 5:1)
Sanctified (I Corinthians 6:11)
A New Creature (II Corinthians 5:17)
Partaker of His Divine Nature (II Peter 1:4)
Redeemed from the Curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)
Delivered from the Powers of Darkness (Colossians 1:13)
Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
A Son of God (Romans 8:74)
Kept in Safety Wherever I Go (Psalm 91:11)
Getting All My Needs Met by Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
Casting All My Cares on Jesus (I Peter 5:7)
Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might (Ephesians 6:10)
Doing All Things through Christ Who Strengthens Me (Philippians 4:13)
An Heir of God and a Joint Heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17)
Heir to the Blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:13, 14)
Observing and Doing the Lord’s Commandments (Deuteronomy 28:I2)
Blessed Coming in and Blessed Going out (Deuteronomy 28:6)
An Heir of Eternal Life (I John 5:11, 12)
Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings (Ephesians 1:3)
Healed by His Stripes (I Peter 2:24)
Exercising My Authority over the Enemy (Luke 10:19)
Above Only and Not Beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
More than a Conqueror (Romans 8:37)
Establishing God’s Word Here on Earth (Matthew 16:19)
An Overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of My Testimony (Revelation 12:11)
Daily overcoming the Devil (I John 4:4)
Not Moved by What I See (II Corinthians 4:18)
Walking by Faith and Not by Sight (II Corinthians 5:7)
Casting Down Vain Imaginations (II Corinthians 10:4, 5)
Bringing Every Thought into Captivity (II Corinthians 10:5)
Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind (Romans 12:1, 2)
A Laborer Together with God (I Corinthians 5:21)
The Righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21)
An Imitator of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1)
The Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)
Blessing the Lord at All Times and Continually Praising the Lord with My Mouth (Psalm 34:1)

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Psalm 46 God’s Defense of His City and People

<To the Heavenly Worship Leader for the sons of Korakh [Bald], A Song upon ‘Alamot [Soprano voices of young women].>

46:1 God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 46:3 [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Selah [stop and diligently consider what was just said].

46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High. 46:5 God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall help her, [and that] right early. 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 46:7 The LORD Yehōvah [Messiah Pre-Incarnate] Tz‘va‘ot [of the Heavenly Armies] [is] with us; the God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Ya‘akov [Heel of God] [is] our refuge. Selah [stop and diligently consider what was just said].

46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD Yehōvah [Messiah Pre-Incarnate], what desolations he has made in the earth. 46:9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire. 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 46:11 The LORD Yehōvah [Messiah Pre-Incarnate] Tz‘va‘ot [of the Heavenly Armies] [is] with us; the God Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Ya‘akov [Heel of God] [is] our refuge. Selah [stop and diligently consider what was just said]. (New Messianic Version of the Psalms – Tov Rose)

Prayer:

O most merciful Savior Jesus, Prince of peace, at whose birth all the kingdoms of the world were in peace and tranquility. Be in the midst of us, for You are our refuge and present help in times of trouble and public calamities. Be in the midst of us, O God our Refuge and help, when the kingdom is moved, and the hearts of men shake at the tempests of the same.

Dearest God and Father, unite all the parts of Christendom with the union of faith and charity, and make the fruits of them, a blessed and universal peace. Break the bow of the mighty, snap the spear of the warrior in sunder, and burn the chariots in the fire, that wars may cease in all the world, so that we all may feel the promised blessing of the Gospel, that our swords may be converted into ploughshares and our spears into pruning-hooks: that Your name and Your kingdom may be exalted among the heathen, and in all the nations of the earth. Glory be to You, Lord God Almighty, who lives and reigns over all, in the unity of the blessed Trinity. God eternal, whose world is without end. Amen. (Jeremy Taylor 1613-1667 – slightly edited)

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DEAR LORD GOD, You know I do not presume to come before You of mine own self, or relying on my own worthiness, for, when looking to this, I dare not raise mine eyes to You, nor would I know how to begin my prayer. But I come, based on Your most earnest desire and command that we should call upon You, and on Your promise to hear us. Besides, You have sent Your Own Son, who taught us how to pray, giving us the very; words. Hence I know that, my presumption in calling myself a child of Yours appears as great as it is. I call on You in obedience to Your will. Otherwise I would be charged with falsehood, and heap upon myself, in addition to my other sins, the graver one of despising Your command and doubting Your promise.

It matters not what kind of a person I was in the past, for though I am a sinner, I know my Lord Jesus Christ is not, He is ever just and gracious. So I will humbly and confidently call out, crying to Him for the forgiveness of my sins, not considering other questions; for now is not the time to ask whether I be elected or not. This one thing I know, that I need help, so I come and seek it in all humility.

Dear Lord God, the Canaanite woman was a Gentile; she could conclude, yea, could hardly help but conclude that she was not elected. If now she approaches You and does not permit such thoughts to prevent her prayer, I shall do the same and say: Lord, I come before You, I am in need of one thing; the forgiveness of my sins. Whence else shall I obtain help but from You in heaven, through Your Only Son, my Savior, Christ Jesus? Amen

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In the Letters and in the Dialogue, her principal writings, Catherine of Siena describes the transformation that Christian faith and Baptism accomplish in the believer. In one especially poetic passage, she writes to a knight-monk. His name was Nicholas di Strozzi, and he was a prior in one of the military orders that flourished during the Middle Ages. These knight-monks aimed to combine the virtues of chivalry with the ideals of self-discipline. To Prior Nicholas, then, Catherine writes:

Our King [she refers to Christ] behaves like a true knight who perseveres in battle until the enemies are defeated…. With unarmed hand, nailed fast to the cross, he defeated the prince of the world, with the wood of the holy cross as his mount. This knight of ours came armed with the breastplate of Mary’s flesh, flesh that bore the blows to make up for our wickedness. The helmet on his head is the painful crown of thorns, driven right into his brain. The sword at his side is the wound of his side, revealing to us the secret of his heart; it is a sword with a point of light that ought to pierce our inmost heart with the force of love. The staff in his hand is there in mockery. And the gloves on his hands and spurs on his feet are the scarlet wounds in the hands and feet of this gentle loving Word.

What do we learn from this description of the suffering Christ? What does Catherine teach us about the transformation that brings the world stillness on Good Friday from noon until three o’clock? The answer is simple: We discover that because of his enormous love, Christ’s sufferings and Death cause the transformation of all that exists, the transformation we call Christian salvation. “What held him nailed firm and fast to the cross?” Catherine inquires. “Neither the nails nor the cross, which were not capable of holding the God-Man, but the bond of love for the Father’s honor and our salvation.”7 “What armed him?” Catherine further asks. Her answer: “Love.” The transformation that Catherine announces is one that creates in those persons who remain united with Christ a new ground for love, a new sort of loving. We call this freely bestowed transformation the gift of divine grace, both habitual and actual. The transformation affects both our persons and our actions.

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How comforting, 0 Lord, is Your presence ! It makes afflictions light and easy to be borne. Nay, it enables us even to “glory in tribulations.” But when You withdraw Your presence—when, by our sins, we create a distance between You and our souls, how heavy are our spirits! nothing then can impart comfort or satisfaction. To a heart that has once felt Your love, it is not in the power of sublunary objects to afford substantial bliss. But, 0 Lord, though our sins have separated between You and us, yet when we return with weeping, You are ever ready to meet us, and to “restore to us, the joy of Your salvation.” You even hasten to embrace us, and to bestow upon us anew the tokens of Your love. You look tenderly upon Your penitent children. When they seek You sorrowing, You are always near. Your voice seems to say, “be of good cheer; Your sins are forgiven You.” Blessed be Your name, gracious Savior, that now You are risen ; and bast given us the assurance that You will be with Your people, not only in their solitude, but where “two or three of them are gathered together in Your name.” 0, may our souls ever live beneath the light of Your countenance! When we lose sight of You, our Lord, may we go weeping till we find You. Let our hearts-never be at rest when You are absent, Let it not be in the power of any creature to separate us from Your love. Reign supreme in our affections, and reign there forever. Amen. –A Book for the Sabbath by Jared Bell Waterbury

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Eternal God, Author of my being, Fountain of all love, trusting in Your love, I, a poor, miserable sinner, come before You, to speak to You and to ask for Your love.

You know all that I would ask of You, if I dared; You know how I would love You, if I could; You knows all I would hope of You, if mine own unworthiness did not keep me back. Yet You gives me the longing, You will give what I long for, even yourself, Whom I long for. You prepares the heart. Prepare my heart, O Loving God, that I may long for You more, adore You more humbly, ask at least with all the desires of my heart, all which You are ready to give me, if I love You. Make me to love You through all Your love for me, through Your own love in me.

O God, my God, I praise You and thank You from my inmost heart that in all eternity You did think of me, and did love me with Your Infinite Love; that out ‘of pure love for me, You willed to make me that I might love You, and be loved by You, and be happy in Your Love. You willed in all eternity to redeem me with the Precious Blood of Your Only, Co-equal Son; You willed to unite me in Him to yourself; You willed that He should become Man that we might, through Him, be one with You. This You willed for me, too, O my God, and for this You did wait for me when I looked not for You.

You remembered me when I forgot You; You made me Your child; You gave me Your graces; You spoke to my heart; by all the yearnings of my young heart You drew me to You; if I did not heed You, You did not grow weary, but called me anew; and You have conquered and have made me Yours.

O then let my soul melt for love of You; let it melt through Your love, into Your love, that in love I may adore You, in love serve You, in love thank You, in and with Your love, love You everlastingly.

For these and all Your blessings bestowed on me Your poor sinner, upon Your whole Church, upon every member of Your Church, and especially upon all whom You have ever given me to love or to be loved by me; for all the benefits of nature. Providence, grace, up to this hour (here think of the greater blessings of your life), for the guardianship of all Holy Angels, especially my own; but above all, for Your great glory in the Creation and Redemption of the world, I give You most humble and hearty thanks in union with the thanksgivings of my Lord Jesus Christ and of His whole Church in heaven and in earth. Enlarge my heart that I may love You more and more; kindle my soul that I may praise You; order my thoughts, words, and deeds, that, within and without, I may be wholly Yours, wholly serve You, wholly praise and glorify You, with all ,Your Angels and Saints, forever and ever.

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Almighty and everlasting God, the all-wise and all righteous Ruler of mankind. Vouchsafe to grant the prayer of Your unworthy servant. If in the course of Your inscrutable providence, I can contribute, even by the sacrifice of my life, or fortune, or reputation, to the preservation of my native country, to the advancement of virtue, and public peace and happiness, may I always be willing, and by Your divine assistance strengthened, to surrender every blessing and comfort of life, and life itself, into Your most bountiful hands, from whom I have received them all, through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Philip, Earl Stanhope. (1714-86). The best mathematician in his day.

Grant unto us, O merciful God, knowledge and true understanding of Your word, that we may know what Your will is, and also may show forth in our lives those things that we do know. that we be not only knower’s of Your word but also doers of the same; by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who sent forth Your first disciples to proclaim Your kingdom, and to teach Your commandments. Give to us, Your disciples this day, such an understanding of the word, that we may teach to others what we have been taught of You, to the glory of Your Name, and the spread of Your Kingdom. — Daily Prayer

Lord be merciful to us sinners, and save us for Your mercy’s sake. You are the great God, Who has made and rules all things, deliver us for Your name’s sake. You are the great God to be feared above all, save us, that we may praise You. You, O Lord, are just and powerful, defend our cause against the face of the enemy. O God, You are a strong tower of defense to all Who fly unto You: Save us from the violence of the enemy. O Lord of Hosts, fight for us, that we may glorify You suffer us not to sink under the weight of our sins, or the violence of the enemy. Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for Your name’s sake. Amen.

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Prayer is the soaring of the soul towards God, an appeal to His mercy, an homage to His greatness. how seriously it behooves us to perform this duty in a proper manner! In this life, while man is assailed by so much suffering, so many anxieties, and endures so much misery and sorrow, whence can he seek aid and consolation? Can his fellow-man, his companion in weakness and impotence, be his comforter? As. child in his grief appeals instinctively to his parent, so man in his distress appeals to his heavenly Father, Who alone can aid him. Anxieties and misery attack us in vain, when we resist them by seeking consolation from Him Who knows our sorrows.. Towards the mountains. raise my eyes,” says the Psalmist,. thence will come my aid.”
What cannot fervent prayer obtain? When the sentence of condemnation is borne to the heavenly tribunal, let us pray, and God may revoke it. Moses, prostrate at the summit of Sinai, stayed by prayer the arm of the Eternal, already raised to exterminate guilty, idolatrous Israel.
I. We will not fear then, loaded though we be with sin, we will not fear to offer our repentance to the Lord. we will pray for ourselves and others, and hope, though we fear; for. day or. night not begun or ended with prayer, might be. fatal one to us, or to one dear to us, the last day or the last night.
2. Prayer would, indeed, be imperfect, did it lead us towards God only when in trouble or in fear, or had it no other motive than that our wants should be supplied. Besides supplication, is it not just and proper that we should offer our thanks and gratitude to our merciful Father, for the daily blessings He bestows, and the miracles He renews for our preservation, our sustenance, and our existence?
But prayer does more than this. When the mind is imbued with the idea of God, we contemplate His greatness and wonders, and then. sentiment is awakened within us of veneration and delight at His glory, His omnipotence. His wondrous works; this divine joy, tJiis soaring of the soul, find vent in words of blessing and praise, as expressed in the divine harmony of the Psalms..How wondrous are thy works, Lord! how profound are thy thoughts.”
3. But how should we pray.
To move the lips mechanically, without feeling prayer in the heart, is an offence to God. To pray mentally, without. devout attitude, is to fail in respect towards the Great Being with whom we desire to hold communion.
Above all we should take heed lest prayer become an act of routine,. duty fulfilled hastily, amid noise, irreverence, and disturbance. we should attune our hearts to devotion. retire to some silent spot, assume an humble,. contemplative posture, and resign our souls to God; then only can we hope to be in communion with Him.
But to present ourselves humbly before God is not all; we must bring faith. faith that gives life to prayer and warms the heart; and, above all, prayer must proceed from purity of intention, the desire to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God, and also from filial submission to His will.
4..Oh! that our minds could be fully impressed with the glory of God, or that we could duly reflect on His holiness! Faith teaches us that our God, of whose majesty even Moses could not bear the glorious presence, is near us when we pray. He sees and hears us. He knows every thought of the soul, every secret of the heart. Yes, He, the Holy God, is near. and should we, Who bow with respect and humility before. mortal somewhat above us in rank and power, not watch over our words and deeds in the presence of the King of kings, before whom terrestrial monarchs are as. grain of dust.. how dare we in His presence give ourselves up to levity of any kind.
5. Let us, then, strictly observe the duty of prayer, for it is the life of the soul. early in the morning let us appear before the Lord, offer Him the first-fruits of the day. the purity of our actions may depend on the fidelity with which we fulfill this first duty. But, before praying, let us examine ourselves. remember what we are, and reflect on the nature of God before whom we appear. then will our hearts be filled with sentiments of humility, respect, and devotion, and thus we shall become worthy of addressing the Creator of the universe.
A day should not pass without returning thanks for the favors God has granted. before retiring to rest we should recall to mind every event of the day, and repent of any unworthy act we may have committed. and thus reconciled to God, we may be able to invoke His protection, for ourselves and others, from the dangers of the night.
Not alone during the stated times of prayer, but in every circumstance of life. in joy, as in sorrow. should we have God in our hearts and in our thoughts.
6. Yes, Lord! it is to You I turn to pour put my grief and anguish. it is to You I render homage for the happy days it pleases You to bestow.. If affliction assail me, teach me to bear it according to Thy will. if joy be my portion,. will say, It is God Who gives it.

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MY good God, prayer to You is my fortress, prayer is my friend, in prayer I forget all my misery and littleness. Cause me, therefore, to pour my soul out to You in prayer at the present time. I have known no help in times of difficulty, in shame and humiliation I found no sympathizer, but Your watching and Guardian Spirit. Desert me not now. I want You more than ever, Your assurance and Your comfort my soul craves for. My God, my tower of strength, my sweetness and peace of heart, be ever near. God of truth and righteousness, I seek justification in Your sight only. Stand in my conscience, King of holiness, give me Your word, and I will be calm though the whole world rise in rage like a surging sea. Holiness and judgment are Yours, and I humbly stand before Your throne. Crush me in Your justice if I am guilty, and let confusion overtake me. But if in Your sight I stand acquitted, what man is there that shall make me tremble? My Father, purge me from all fear and shame before You. – The Ministers Prayers Part 2

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Almighty God, who orders all things and rules the wills and affections of sinful men, we beseech You to dispose the course of this world, that we may serve You in all godly quietness. We ask You to remove all the hindrances out of our path, which might prevent our attainment of everlasting felicity and carry on the work of grace within us. For this and every day gives us fresh occasions to thank You for Your goodness, may every day witness in us fresh tokens of grace and amendment of life, to Your honor and glory. Quicken our languid desires after spiritual blessings; and make us to hunger and thirst after righteousness, that Your gracious promises may be fulfilled in us.
We confess with sorrow and shame, how little we have profited from the many means of improvement which it has been our privilege to possess; and how little we have adorned the doctrine of God our Savior. O that we had served You more steadily and sincerely ; and had improved the time which is past and cannot be recalled. Help us, merciful Father, to be more earnest in improving that which may still remain to us. O Lord incite us to resolve to be more watchful and diligent; and confirm our good resolutions by the inspiration of Your divine strength. Enable us to avoid all temptations that they may be avoided, and steadfastly to resist all temptation we encounter. May the fear and love of You so possess our hearts, that no allurements may entice, and no violence drive us from the way of obedience. Let Your grace and strength be present with us this day, and bring us to the close of it with a conscience void of offense towards You and towards men. May the love of Christ dwell within us, that we may keep His commandments ; may Your grace abound to us, that we may grow in faith, in hope and in charity, and become more ready to be translated to Your heavenly kingdom.
We commit both our bodies and our souls to Your protection this day ; we beseech You also to preserve and bless our dear friends and neighbors, and all for whom it is our duty to pray. As we desire the continuance of Your goodness to us; so we bless and praise Your Holy Name! for Your manifold and great mercies bestowed upon us; and we beseech You to make us so unfeignedly thankful, that we may show forth Your praise, not with our lips only, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to Your service and walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our Father, &c.
The Grace, &c.

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Eternal God, who has made all things for man, and man for Your glory, sanctify my body and soul, my thoughts and my intentions, my words and actions, that whatsoever I shall think, or speak, or do, may be by me designed to the glorification of Your name, and by Your blessing it may be effective and successful in the work of God, according as it can be capable. Lord, turn my necessities into virtue, the works of nature into the works of grace, by making them orderly, regular, temperate, subordinate, and profitable to ends beyond their own proper efficacy; and let no pride or self-seeking, no covetousness or revenge, no impure mixture or unhandsome purposes, no little ends and low imaginations, pollute my spirit, and unhallow any of my words and actions; but let my body be a servant of my spirit, and both body and spirit servants of Jesus; that doing all things for Your glory here, I may be a partaker of Your glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. – Prayers When the Door is Shut

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O Lord God, of infinite mercy and of infinite excellency, who hast sent Your Holy Son into the world to redeem us from an intolerable misery, and to teach us a holy religion, and to forgive us an infinite debt; give me Your Holy Spirit, that my understanding and all my faculties may be so resigned to the discipline and doctrine of my Lord, that I may be prepared to die for the testimony of Jesus, and to suffer any affliction or calamity that shall offer to hinder my duty, or tempt me to shame, or sin, or apostasy; and let my faith be the parent of a good life, a strong shield to repel the fiery darts of the devil, and the author of a holy hope, of modest desires and confidence in God, and of a never-failing charity to You, my God, and to all the world; that I may never have my portion with the unbelievers, or uncharitable and desperate persons; but may be supported by the strengths of faith in all temptations, and may be refreshed with the comforts of a holy hope in all my sorrow’s, and may bear the burden of the Lord, and the infirmities of my neighbor, by the support of charity ; that the yoke of Jesus may become easy to me, and my love may do all the miracles of grace, till from grace it swells to glory, from earth to heaven, from the imperfections of a beginning and a little growing love, it may arrive to the consummation of an eternal and never-ceasing charity, through Jesus Christ, the Son of Your love, the Author of our hope, and the Author and Finisher of our faith : to whom with You, 0 Lord God, Father of heaven and earth, and with Your Holy Spirit, be all glory, and love, and obedience, and dominion, now and for ever. Amen. – Prayers When the Door is Shut by A Lady Deceased

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O GOD, our Father, as we come to You at the beginning of the new day, may our hearts be open to receive the gift of Your spirit for which we pray. Grant that we may not be unresponsive to the promptings of Your spirit, but that we may go through all the manifold duties and tasks of this day with a real consciousness of nearness to You, and of dependence upon You.
Give us wisdom in the performance of our daily work in the use of our time and opportunities, so that we may not be restricted in our vision to the immediate interests of the present, but that we may look forward to a time when we may be called upon to use our talents in some service in which our real value to You, as fellow-workers, will depend upon the thoroughness with which we have trained ourselves for efficient service. May we strive to grow in spiritual strength, as well as in mental and physical powers.
Grant that our many experiences of Your love, the realization of the blessings of the past, may give us ever increasing faith. Give us strength of will and clearness of conscience to follow more steadfastly that which we know is right. Forgive, we beseech You, the many things which we do contrary to Your laws, and the many things which we fail to do because of negligence and indifference.
May all our thoughts, words, and acts throughout this day be prompted by right motives, and by worthy ideals; may we live with the constant desire to make our lives acceptable to You. Amen.
C. B. Breed